Genesis 48:14

Genesis 48:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
• New International Version (NIV)But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Context of Genesis 48:14

12Joseph took them off his father’s lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. 13Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel’s left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was older. 15Then Jacob blessed Joseph, “May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may God, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, 16may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil, bless these boys. May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.”

Genesis 48:14 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• stretched outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
• his right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• and laidשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
• upon Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
• headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• the youngerצָעִירtsâ‛îyr tsâ‛ôr · littleH6810
• and his left handשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• upon Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
• guidingשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060

Cross-references for Genesis 48:14

• Exodus 15:6Your right hand, O Lord, wins glory because it is strong. Your right hand, O Lord, smashes your enemies.
• Psalms 110:1The Lord said to my Lord, “Take the honored position—the one next to me [God the Father] on the heavenly throne until I put your enemies under your control.”
• Psalms 118:16The right hand of the Lord is held high. The right hand of the Lord displays strength.
• Numbers 8:10Then bring the Levites into the Lord’s presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them.
• Deuteronomy 34:9Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the Spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites obeyed him and did what the Lord had commanded through Moses.
• Matthew 19:13Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.
• Matthew 6:5“When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
• Matthew 16:18You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.
• Luke 4:40When the sun was setting, everyone who had friends suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and cured them.
• Luke 13:13He placed his hands on her, and she immediately stood up straight and praised God.
• Acts 6:6The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.
• Acts 8:17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 13:3After fasting and praying, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and released them ⌞from their work in Antioch⌟.
• 1 Timothy 4:14Don’t neglect the gift which you received through prophecy when the spiritual leaders placed their hands on you ⌞to ordain you⌟.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Don’t be in a hurry to place your hands on anyone ⌞to ordain him⌟. Don’t participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.
• Genesis 48:19His father refused and said, “I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation, and he, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he, and his descendants will become many nations.”

Commentaries on Genesis 48:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Israel stretched out his right hand, etc. - Laying hands on the head was always used among the Jews in giving blessings, designating men to any office, and in the consecration of solemn sacrifices. This is the first time we find it mentioned; but we often read of it afterwards. See Numbers 27:18, Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 34:9; Matthew 19:13, Matthew 19:15; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14. Jacob laid his right hand on the head of the younger, which we are told…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-22Verses 1-22 - Joseph Visits His Sick Father The right of primogeniture has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. He is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife. He has also been the means of saving all his father‘s house, even after he had been sold into slavery by his brethren. He has therefore, undeniable claims to this part of the first-born‘s rights. Genesis…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-22Verses 8-22 The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, They are my sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed. Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God's hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14The right hand was for the head of the firstborn, and Jacob was deliberately giving that position to the younger son. That pattern was followed for four consecutive generations: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh. Many years later, Ephraim became the leading tribe in the northern kingdom, superior to the tribe of Manasseh. The entire northern kingdom of Israel was occasionally called Ephraim (see study notes…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-221. one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick--Joseph was hastily sent for, and on this occasion he took with him his two sons.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 48:14

• Adoption
• Ephraim
• Hand
• Manasseh

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Manasseh
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Left hand
• Dreadful
• Jacob
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Birthright
• Charm

Commentaries on Genesis 48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings